OF MANURE. 20<J 



informs me, that he has had the experience of this com- 

 post for five years, to a very considerable extent, and has 

 found it to answer. In making compost dunghills, he has, 

 as nearly as possible, followed Lord Meadowbank's direc- 

 tions ; but when he has plenty of dung, he puts only two, 



the cold is severe. It always, however, lias been found to come on at 

 last ; and in summer it sometimes rises so high as to be mischievous, by 

 consuming the materials ( fire-fanging}. In that season, a stick should 

 be kept in it in different parts, to pull out and feel now and th n ; for 

 if it approaches to blood-heat, it should either be watered or turned 

 over ; and, on such an occasion, advantage may be taken to mix it with 

 a little fresh moss. The heat subsides after a time, and with great va- 

 riety, according to the weather, the dung, and the perfection of making 

 up the compost, which then may be allowed to remain untouched, till 

 within three weeks of using, when it should be turned over, upside 

 down, and outside in, and all the lumps broken ; then it comes into a 

 second heat, but soon cools, and is taken out for use. In this state, the 

 whole, except bits of old decayed wood, appears a black free mass, and 

 spreads like garden mould. Use it weight for weight like farm-yard 

 dung, and it will be found, in a course of cropping, fully to stand the 

 comparison. 



Let it be observed, that the object of making up the compost, is to 

 form as large a hot-bed, as the quantity of dung employed admits of, 

 and then to surround it on all sides, so as to have the whole benefit of 

 the heat and effluvia. Peat, nearly as dry as garden mould in seed-time, 

 may be mixed with the dung, so as to double the volume and more, and 

 nearly triple the weight, and instead of hurting the heat, prolong it. 

 frize. Essay, by Lord Meadowbank, pages 149, 150, and 151. This 

 manure succeeded with Mr Dudgeon, Prora, beyond expectation, qn 

 fallow for wheat ; and with twenty carts per acre, in place of twelve of 

 farm-yard dung, has been completely equal to it. But there is reason 

 to believe, that merely for want of attention, and allowing it to be too 

 much heated, the plan has sometimes failed, and in such cases lias got a 

 character it did not merit. A correspondent states, that he has used this 

 compost for seven years, and considers it to be of immense importance, 

 He would rather bring moss for two or three miles, than want it for hi< 

 compost dunghills. 



TOL. I. Q 



